South Australia.

such as was never before beheld in the colony . The arrangements and the attention of the Stewards are worthy of the highest commendation , not one single point having been omitted to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of the guests . The orchestra was under the direction of Bro . R . N . Kohles , who exerted himself most indefatigably to please , and entirely succeeded . The cuisine was under the superintendence of Bro . Aldridgeand was got up in si

, most sumptuous manner . Dancing was kept up till five a . m ., and down to the final settlement , there was nothing but success , satisfaction , and harmony , in a high degree ; and , notwithstanding , the magnificence of the arrangements , the management of the Stewards prevented them being called upon for any extra expense . GAWLEBTOWN ,- —The ceremony of fixing thekey -stone of the tower arch of St . George ' s New Church , by the worshipful body of

Freemasons , took place on May the 21 st , amidst such a demonstration as has never been witnessed before in Gawler . The weather was propitious , and at two o ' clock the whole of the shops were closed , and great numbers might be seen driving in from the country round to witness the procession and ceremony . At three o'clock the procession was formed in front of the Oddfellows' Hall , by the Foresters and Oddfellows ( M . U . ) with their beautiful banners . On passing the Masonic lodge the brethren of the Craft emerged and

joined the procession in the rear . At the head was Tyler with drawn sword , and following in due order , the various brethren with the three lights , corn , wine , and oil , the Holy Bible , Chaplain , Architect , & c , the rear being drought up with Bro . Fiveash , D . Prov . G . M ., Irish Constitution , supported by Bro . Crouder , Prov . G . S . W . ( I . C ) , and Bro . Boucant , Prov . G . Sec . ( I . C . ) The insignia banners , and regalia , gave this part of the procession an imposing appearance . Sehraxler's excellent band took the lead , and the

assembled brethren then walked to the church , where the leaders stopped and the members fell back on either side so as to allow "the last to be first and the first last . " The old church was densely crowded , the right side being occupied by the Masons and other orders , and many hundreds outside , could not gain admission . The Rev . Canon Coombs read prayers , tbe Rev . Canon Russell , lessons ; Bro . the Rev . T . Pollitt , P . Prov . G . Chaplain , preached an eloquent and impressive sermon . At theconclusiou thereof , the'Masons , followed

by the bishop and clergy , assembled on a platform at the crown of the arch , to which a few of the principal Oddfellows and Foresters were also admitted by tickets . The Lord Bishop then read the service to the part appointed for the fixing the stone , when Bro . Martin , Mayor of Gawler , and W . M . of Lodge of Fidelity ( B . C . ) , received the tools from the hands of the brethren who bad carried them , and having applied the ' same , declared the stone well formed , true , trusty , and properly placed . Bro . Donner , W . P . Prov . G . J . D .

( E . C ) , and Bro . Crouder V . W . Prov . G . S . W . ( I . G ) , and Bro . Boucant , V . P . G . Sec . ( I . C ) , then handed respectively tbe corn of nourishment , the wine of refreshment , aud the oil of joy to Bro . W . Fisher , D . Prov . G . M . ( I . C ) , who sprinkled them upon the stone with the appropriate words , in ancient form , praying- for a blessing on the people , the successful completion of the work , protection of the workmen , and that the edifice might stand long when completed . His Lordshithen concluded the servicewhereupon the Rev . M .

p , Coombs thanked the Masons for their assistance , which were duly acknowledged , and the Masonic public honours were then given , thus concluding the ceremony . The whole then returned in the same order as they had conic to their respective lodge rooms . A soiree and lecture took place in the evening- at tho Oddfellows ' Hall , the whole affair proving a triumphant success ..

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

Dr . Bennett has been applied to to compose the English music for the Great Exhibition of 1862 , and to conduct his own composition , as was no loss fitting . It appears that there is to be an instrumental Solo at tho Birmingham Festival ; played by Miss Arabella ttoddard . Mr . F . Peima's song-entertainment is over for the season . At last , largely owing-, we believe , to the persistence of Prof .

Donaldson , —the sum of £ 2000 has been wrung from the administrators of the Reid legacy , so often referred to , and a new organ , purchased therewith from Mr . Hill , om- well known builder , has been placed in the music class-room of the Edinburgh University . The instrument has four manuals and a pedal-board , contains 20 S 0 pipes , 4 . 0 stops , and 5 couplers . Let us hope that it will be wisely turned to account . Madame Viardot has reappeared at the Grand O in tho part

pera , which she exhausted once for all when creating it there , in M . Meyerbeer ' s Fides . M . Benezat ' s usual liberal musical entertainments are to be offered as usual to the players , idlers , and invalids of Baden-Baden in August . The customary grand concert , conducted hy M . Berlioz there , will include his " Harold" Symphony and selections from his " Requiem . "

Notes On Music And The Drama.

The coming German opera season at Vienna is to open with a translated version of Donizetti's " L'Elisir . " Signor Verdi ' s " II Trovatore " is chosen for the King's birthday at Hanover . A prize has been offered by the Society of Friends of Music in Vienna for two new symphonies to be performed there during the coming opera season . The umpires named are Dr . Ambros , of Prague ; Herr Hillerof CologneDr . Lisztof Wiomar ; Herr

, ; , Reinecke , of Leipsic ; and Herr Volkniann , of Pesth . Among late musical publications from the German press may besignalized a new pianoforte Concerto by Herr Brahms ( which maybe worth looking after ) , and an edition of the pianoforte score of Mr . AVallaco ' s " Lurline , " with German text . Sebastain Bach ' s Christmas Oratorio is now under revival in many German towns , Stuttgart among the number .

Pneumatic Despatch Tube.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE .

The passengers by Citizen steamboat to Chelsea may observe on the open quay which adjoins the premises of the Southwark and Vauxhall Waterworks , near Battersea pier , a long range of black iron tubing , half sunk in the earth , and extending a distance of about 450 yards along the brink of the river , except where it takes a winding turn , and dives under ground before entering a shed . The tube is the object of certain experiments which began on Tuesday , and will be continued for a few days . The transmission of packages by

pneumatic pressure is not a new idea , nor in practice is it without an example , for the Electric Telegraph Company have , for a period of six years , employed tbe same means in collecting their messages from districts immediately surrounding their chief station . But the plan on which the Pneumatic Despatch Company intend , with the aid of their engineers , Messrs . T . W . Rammell and Latimer Clark , to apply the principle more widely , embraces two or three novel points of mechanism . The tube which we have mentioned

is about 30 inches in diameter . It has rails , Vvhieh are solidly casfe within it . The cars which arc to bear the despatches and mail bag 3 are also of cast iron , with wheels wdiich run on the rails ; but tho cars themselves , corresponding in shape with their receptacle , do not fit closely to its top and sides . Nothing like a vacuum or complete exhaustion of atmosphere is , in fact , required . The failure of the old atmospheric railway was attributable partly to the enormous pressure , and partly to the necessity of opening and closing a continous valve as often as a train started . Neither difficulty occurs with regard to the pneumatic despatch tube . The

pressure in this case is about six inches of water , wdiich does not equal half the variation of the barometer . A maximum speed of twenty-five miles an hour may , we believe , be attained ; but this > as well as the weight of the carriage and their contents must bo a question of mechanical power . It will be for use in crowded towns that the pneumatic despatch tube will prove a boon ; and its first operations in London will probably be in connection with the General Post-oftlce . The

machinery by which a partial exhaustion of air within the tube is effected may be briefly described . In the shed to which we have alluded is an engine which works direct by a crank on tho axis of a couple of discs , the diameter of which is 21 feet . There is a space between these discs , not wider than three or four inches at the edge , but greatly increasing towards the centre , where a largo body of air is held . By the rapid and simultaneous revolution of thess discs , the air is expelled at the open sides , just as water is trundled ,

by a mop . As the centre communicates with the tube , a certain quantity of air is abstracted , and a corresponding pressure of course takes place , by which the motion of the cars is governed . On their approach to the end of their journey a check is given to their speed by a very ingenious arrangement . The exhausting machinery , instead of acting on the whole length of the tube , communicates with it by a branch pipe , at some little distance from the end . As soon as the cars have passed this pipe , they are no longer subject to the same motive influence , and the air in advance of them acts as a kind of natural buffer , the opposing force of which can again be regulated at will by the attendants who hear the approaching ; cars .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

TRF . CouKr . —Her Majestj' and the roj-al family continue in the Isle of Wight . The Prince of' Wales is still pursuing his military studies in Ireland . IMIUSMAL PAMI . OTEXT . — -In the HOUSE OF L OEDS on Thursday , the 18 th inst ., the East India High Court of Judicature Bill , and the East India Service Bill , were read a second time . Other bills were advanced a stage . On Friday , Lord Harrowby moved that an address be presented to her Majesty , praying for the . production of all the correspondence in the years iS 31 aud 1832 , relative to the partition of Poland . Lord Wodehouse expressed his willingness to produce the correspondence